J. Kelland Perry

A Purry Point of View Part 3: Happy International Cat Day!

Published on August 8, 2025August 8, 2025 by J. Kelland Perry20 Comments

Hey there, friends and felines! Lou and Gordon Purry here, delighted to be back on WordPress to spend a part of International Cat Day with you all.

To commemorate the occasion, Jennifer asked us to share some of her favourite cat quotes on her blog today, as well as some of her much-loved photos of us.

So here goes!

“One cat just leads to another.” – Ernest Hemingway

“I have lived with several Zen masters—all of them cats.” –Eckhart Tolle

“Perhaps one reason we are fascinated by cats is because such a small animal can contain so much independence, dignity, and freedom of spirit.” – Lloyd Alexander

“I’m not spoiled, my human is just well trained.” – Unknown

“Cats: the original supermodels.” – Unknown

“There’s no need for a piece of sculpture in a home that has a cat.” – Wesley Bates

“Heaven will never be Paradise unless my cats are there waiting for me.” – Unknown

🩷 🐾 💙 🐾. 🩷 🐾. 💙 🐾. 🩷 🐾. 💙 🐾. 🩷

If you are spending part of today with a fellow feline, please give him or her some love!

~ Head Bumps & Nose Kisses, Louie & Gordie 😻😻

Free Library Swag? Thank you!

Published on June 5, 2025 by J. Kelland Perry27 Comments

I was pleasantly surprised this week to get a bonus with my local library checkouts: a lovely new mug! Our librarian only had a few come in, so he was limited in who he could give them to. But because my husband probably uses the local library more than any other patron(and perhaps me as a close second), the first name that came to him was Paul. Much appreciated, Austin!
As for that book in the photo, Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, I am absolutely loving it so far. Weir is the author of The Martian, a popular novel that was made into a very popular movie. Science fiction at its best.

Do you use your local library? Do tell. 📚

Further reading in my post from 2019: In Praise of Librarians. Many supportive comments of our libraries and of those who work in them.

“The very existence of libraries affords the best evidence that we may yet have hope for the future of man”
― T.S. Eliot

Book News!

Published on April 3, 2025April 3, 2025 by J. Kelland Perry38 Comments

Hello friends, followers, and my fellow book lovers.
I am pleased to share some news.
My latest novel, The Women of Wild Cove, will be published on September 1st.

Publisher: Running Wild Press

A short synopsis:

After global collapse, the island of Newfoundland in the warming waters of the North Atlantic has survived under female rule. Children are raised by a network of caregivers, guided by the principles of “It Takes a Village.” But the civilization is threatened when its birth rate suddenly stagnates.

THE WOMEN OF WILD COVE is a survival tale of divided loyalties, love and sacrifice, gender equality, and uneasy alliances in a climate-changed world.

At this time, the book is available for pre-order in e-book form only. Here’s the Amazon link.

When the book is officially released on September 1st, the paperback will then become available.

About the Author:

Jennifer Kelland Perry is a Canadian blogger, writer, avid reader and animal lover. Born in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, she left the city behind in 2010 to enjoy rural life beside the ocean with her husband and two spoiled cats. Jennifer is the author of Calmer Girls, a two-book coming-of-age series, and a proud member of WritersNL. Visit her writing and photography blog at: jenniferkellandperry.com

By the way, if you are a member of LibraryThing, their April 2025 Batch is now available for Early Reviewers! Hit the link and scroll down to my book if you’d like a chance to review my new novel for free.

A Purry Point of View Part 2: Louie

Published on March 25, 2025 by J. Kelland Perry30 Comments

Hi Folks and Felines! Louie here, finally getting my turn to guest blog on Jennifer’s Journal.

Gordie really let me have it on his guest post last time, didn’t he? Well, guess what? I’m here to spill the tea on him! You see, my new brother for the last six months is not as innocent as he would have you believe.

It all happened last fall on Thanksgiving Sunday. After Jennifer and Paul had their meal of roast turkey with all the trimmings, they were about to relax in the living room and leave the turkey, covered in foil, on the counter to finish cooling before putting it in the refrigerator.

But knowing how hungry Gordie seemed to act all the time, Paul suggested putting it back in the oven with the door just ajar.

Lo and behold, when Jennifer came out to get a drink, what did she see? My brother Gordie SITTING ON THE OVEN DOOR, FACE INTO THE TURKEY! He had torn the foil neatly away and had taken a perfect circle of bites out of the drumstick. He looked at her as if to say “Nothing to see here!” All Jennifer could do was laugh.

You see, as was explained to me, Gordon had a somewhat severe case of what is known as food insecurity. Because he had been a runaway stray for a long period of time before his adoption, he was overly anxious about when he would get his next meal. He isn’t as bad as that anymore, thank goodness. The worst he’s done since is grab a pack of deli ham off the counter where it was defrosting. Jennifer found his unsuccessful attempt to open it on the floor with a few tooth marks in it.

I’ve grown to love my silly sibling, even though he does weird things sometimes—just like me.

Oh, I almost forgot: look what Jennifer’s daughter included with her and Paul’s Christmas presents:

Aren’t we cute? These socks were made specially by soxos.ca, a proudly Canadian company. 🇨🇦

Thanks, Jennifer, for letting me share my two cents on your blog. Purrs and nose bumps to all, love Louie. 🐾

A Purry Point of View: Gordon

Published on March 6, 2025 by J. Kelland Perry35 Comments

Hi there, friends! My name is Gordon—aka Gordie, and that’s Louie cuddled in behind me.
I’m guest posting for Jennifer today, who has had so much existential dread lately that she can’t seem to get up the gumption to blog like she used to. Fear not, though. I’m sure she’ll be back on track soon.

I wanted to share with you some pics of what my silly “brother by another mother” has been up to since we moved in with Jennifer and Paul back in September. Because I’m three and he is only one, I’ve been trying to have the upper hand, you know, to keep him in line.

But Louie is simply beyond my ability to control. He is always into something! Here are a few examples:

He jumped up to this chandelier until he finally succeeded to grab this:

Then he turned his attention to these starfish on the wall:

…but was unsuccessful because Jennifer scolded him so many times.

But he did manage to make off with this whatchamacallit from the bathroom in the middle of the night (tore it right off the chain!):

Then Louie decided to grab a couple of things that weren’t nailed on, such as this thingamabob:

…and this doohickey from the wall:

In spite of all his antics, we do have lots of fun together…

…and I think we’re going to keep him. 💙

February “Blues”

Published on February 10, 2025 by J. Kelland Perry18 Comments

Every February seems to try my patience. In spite of the beautiful blues these photos depict, the shortest month always feels like the longest to me.

Speaking of patience, I’ve always loved this poet’s pen name, as well as her positive sentiment here:

While it is February, one can taste the full joys of anticipation. Spring stands at the gate with her finger on the latch. ~ Patience Strong (Winifred Emma May)

To my friends and followers in the northern climes—do you find this month as long and bleak as I do? And we’re only ten days in. Brrrr!

Evergreen Post: Evening Sky in Autumn*

Published on November 24, 2024November 24, 2024 by J. Kelland Perry28 Comments

Autumn sky

With all of the rain, drizzle and fog November has given us here in Newfoundland, our beautiful sunsets have been practically nonexistent.

I so miss the vibrant colours! Does dreary weather affect your mood?

“There is a harmony in autumn, and a luster in its sky.”
– Percy Bysshe Shelley

*Originally posted here in November 2018

Cat News!

Published on October 24, 2024October 24, 2024 by J. Kelland Perry39 Comments

On September 27th, Paul and I visited Gander SPCA. We did not come home empty-handed.

Introducing: Gordon Downie ~~Perry~~ Purry

Gordon—aka Gord or Gordie—is three years old and quite the sweetheart. He has some emotional baggage as a result of his life so far, but I think he is adjusting very well to his new home on Perry’s Point. Here he is on my lap on his very first day with us, purring up a storm. And…

2. Introducing: Lou Reed ~~Perry~~ Purry

Lou—aka Lewis or Louie—is only one year old and acts like a kitten most of the time, tearing around the house and enticing his new brother to play with him. We are pretty sure he likes his new digs as well.

Sleepy boys enjoying their catnaps:

🐾 🐾 🐾

We are thrilled with how well they are getting along. They didn’t meet until the day we adopted them because they were kept in separate rooms at the shelter. Yes, there is plenty of rambunctious play-fighting and running around, but for the most part they are civil and getting used to each other—and us!

🐾 🐾 🐾

”Home is where your cats are.”

🧡 I think Maisie and Vivian would approve. 🧡

”Saving one cat won’t change the world, but for that one cat their world will be forever changed.”

Have any of my friends and fellow bloggers adopted a pet recently? Do tell!

Evergreen Post: A Thankful Heart

Published on October 13, 2024 by J. Kelland Perry28 Comments

“The unthankful heart
discovers no mercies;
but the thankful heart
will find, in every hour,
some heavenly blessings.”
– Henry Ward Beecher

“I’m grateful for always
this moment, the now,
no matter what form it takes.”
– Eckhart Tolle

Happy Sunday, all,
and Happy Thanksgiving
to my Canadian friends and followers!
♥♥♥

Evergreen Post: Historic Grand Bank

Published on September 23, 2024 by J. Kelland Perry22 Comments

Happy Fall, friends and followers. 🍁

Last week, Paul and I took a work trip to Grand Bank and Marystown on our province’s Burin Peninsula. As coincidence would have it, we had taken a trip there ten years ago in October! With that photo shoot from 2014 at the ready, I thought I’d share it with you today. . .

It seems the older I get, the more I treasure the chance to travel around this province. Even when I visit a Newfoundland community I’ve been in before, it’s as if I see it with new and more appreciative eyes.

Earlier this week, I accompanied Paul on one of his little road trips for work, this time on the Burin Peninsula Heritage Run. Our destination was the vibrant town of Grand Bank. I hadn’t been there in over a decade.

It was a rainy trip. But good fortune smiled down, the sun came out as soon as we got there, and so did my trusty camera.

The authentic old buildings and heritage architecture I found especially charming. I’ll let the pictures tell the story of what I loved about historic Grand Bank.